Arch-support for shoes.



P. IACOVINO.

ARCH SUPORT FOR SHOES. APPLIUATION FILED APR. 22, 191s.

Patented Mar. 3, 1914,

WIT/VESSES "iiNiTnn sTATns raTnNT euries.

PIETRU IACOVINO, F NEW YURK, N. Y..

ARCH-SUPPURT FOR SHOES.

Specification of Letters Ilatent.

Patented Mar. 3, 1914.

To all whom 'it may concern Be it known that l, .PIETRO llAoovrNo, a subject of the King of Italy, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new' and Improved Arch-Support for Shoes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to arch supports for foot wear, and has for. an object to provide an improved structure whiclrmay be readily applied to any footwear and at any time.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved support of such a shape and with suitable bracing members for supporting the arch of the foot, the entire structure being also formed so as to be readily inserted in a shoe after the same has been completed.

ln carrying out the `objects of the invention, a supporting arch structurey is provided, formed with a reinforcing metallic strip rigidly secured in place, the entire structure being designed to be readily inserted, and if desired removed from a finished shoe. .The arch is formed of any desired material, as for instance a pluralityl of strips or layers of leather with a padding of rubber or other cushioning means at one point, and a stiii'ening strip or plate of metal immediately below the arch or curved portion of the device. Arranged on one side of the arched or curved device is a side or 11p-turned member for bracing the same.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is a bottom plan view of the bottom of the invention; Fig. 2 is a side view of the structure showri in Fig. 3; Fig. 3 is a sectional view approximately on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and lig. 4 is a sectional view through lFig. 2 on the line 4-4.

Referring tothe accompanying drawings by numerals. 1 indicates a bodyor main strip of material, preferably of leather. The strip 1 is formed of leather of an apple' ciable thickness so as to have more or less body or bracing qualities. This strip is pressed so as to present a substantially central upwardly curved portion 2, and a slightly downwardly curved portion 3 at one end, and at the other end a slightly l downwardly curved end 4 is presented.

The end 4 tapers to a point at 5. A cover of comparatively thin flexible leather 6 is provided, which extends from one side of the base 1 to the other and also near the center part in an upward direction for forming a side bracing member 7. lt will be observed that the body 1 is slightly concaved trans versely with' edge 8 curved up somewhat so as to hold the foot against lateral movement.

A bracing strip 9 is provided at the upwardly bowed central part 2. The strip 9 is provided with a tongue 10 having spreading or divergi'ng wings 11 and 12 near the rear of the base 1. This causes the flexible tongue portion 10 to be rigidly held in place but to properly brace the arch ofthe foot. By reason of the use of the comparatively narrow strip 10 the part of the brace 9 4which supports the arch is comparatively flexible and will therefore give or yield while maintaining a proper bracing action for the arch. The bracing member 9 may be held in place by any desired means, as for instance rivets 13. Preferably one or more pins 14 arewpro-k vided for holding the entire device against movement when placed in the shoe, the pins 14 being forced into the bottom of the shoe at the time the arch device is placed in position.

Arranged near the front of the base 1, is a cushioning member 15, preferably of good rubber which is of considerable thickness centrally and tapers toward each end 16, while tapering from a thick side (Fig. 3) to a point 17 transversely. This provides for a proper cushioning of the ball of the foot where more or less of the strain is pro duced.

Arranged beneath the end 4 of body 1, and beneath the'cushion 15, is a comparatively thin strip of leather 18 which may be securely placedv in any desired manner, and which extends forwardly until it joins with the upper strip 6, where strips 6 and 7 are secured together in any desired manner, as for instance by a line of stitching.

ln use, the device is intended to be inserted into a finished shoe and after proper adjustment locked in. place by having the pins 14 driven into the shoe. ln this Way if the ordinary shoe is not provided with the proper arch support, one may be supplied without re-making the shoe, and at a minimum expense. Also the curve 2 may be varied so that parts of the device may be used having different' curvatures so as to accommodate or fit the arches of different shaped feet.- Y

Having thus described my invention I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent A 1. In an arch support of the class described, a body and a metallic reinforcement therefor bowedirom one end to the other, said metallic reinforcement being substan tially T-shaped, the two arms ofthe T extending transversely of-the body near the end of the same and the trunk of the T extending longitudinally ofthe body.

2. In an arch support of the class described, a body and a metallic reinforcement therefor, said metallic reinforcement being formed with a body extending substantially centrally andl longitudinally of said first mentioned body, said body being bowed 2.0

A PIETRO YIACOVINO; Witnesses: Y

A. L. KITGHIN, I). D. RoLLHAUs.' 

